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Dec 5, 2012
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let me say a few words in our defense. first off, and i want to say this loud and clear, i could not care less about the financial well-being of the nation's rich, whether warren buffett is able to maintain his corporate jet is no concern of mine, although he's a friend. to continue the ability of actors and executives a summer at a lake is not on my list of priorities. when we do finally engage in fundamental tax reform, it is worth our while to look at how these super rich shelter their wealth from the full burden of income taxation while the middle class continues to suffer in both the income tax and increasingly the alternative minimum tax, which is going to hit about 28 million regular people who are not millionaires on january 1 if we go over the cliff. still, i along with most of my republican colleagues continue to promote the seamless extension of current tax policy. that is because of the impact of increasing marginal rates on small business owners and the consequent impact on job creation and economic growth. we
let me say a few words in our defense. first off, and i want to say this loud and clear, i could not care less about the financial well-being of the nation's rich, whether warren buffett is able to maintain his corporate jet is no concern of mine, although he's a friend. to continue the ability of actors and executives a summer at a lake is not on my list of priorities. when we do finally engage in fundamental tax reform, it is worth our while to look at how these super rich shelter their...
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Dec 11, 2012
12/12
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acquiesce or wond in self-defense? -- or respond in self-defense? frankly, it should be no surprise if a minority blocked influencing minority through amendments would demand extending debate by imposing cloture. but look what happens. the minority obstructs the majority's right to participate and develop legislation and then attacks the minority for opposing the passage of that legislation. again, that is not the way the senate is supposed to operate. mr. president, it is not just the minority who suffers from this strategy. more to the point, the american people suffer. they sent us here to be real senators, individuals who represent them and their concerns. they expect us actually to legislate, which means to amend as well as debate, as to debate legislation. not simply to vote on whatever the majority puts in front of us. our constituents want us to force attention to public issues even when the majority would prefer to avoid them. this is the caliber of representation our constituents both demand and deserve, and the rules and practices of the
acquiesce or wond in self-defense? -- or respond in self-defense? frankly, it should be no surprise if a minority blocked influencing minority through amendments would demand extending debate by imposing cloture. but look what happens. the minority obstructs the majority's right to participate and develop legislation and then attacks the minority for opposing the passage of that legislation. again, that is not the way the senate is supposed to operate. mr. president, it is not just the minority...
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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problem of modern society, end quote. this is a simple lesson, one we all learned as children. this is what we need to do now. stakes couldn't be higher. more than $7 trillion of tax cuts in medicare payments and programs for unemployed will expire in just 27 days am today. adding to these spending cuts and tax increases or sequestration, cuts of almost 10% of both defense and nondefense, and cuts of 2% medicare. it would be hard to find a single american not affected by these changes. you all know how serious this is. you believe, like me, that we can do it. to prevent fiscal crisis. but the answer is not just extend all of these tax cuts and delight all of these cuts. that is not the answer. this is an opportunity, an opportunity to commit to balance plan, to bring our national debt back down to sustainable levels. the united states, i believe come is at a critical juncture. we can come together, show the world we are still responsible actors. we can prove that america is still the leader of a global economy. people are
whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problem of modern society, end quote. this is a simple lesson, one we all learned as children. this is what we need to do now. stakes couldn't be higher. more than $7 trillion of tax cuts in medicare payments and programs for unemployed will expire in just 27 days am today. adding to these spending cuts and tax increases or sequestration, cuts of almost 10% of both defense and nondefense, and cuts of 2% medicare. it would be hard to find a...
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Dec 12, 2012
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an act to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the department of defense and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: under the previous order, it is bill, as amended -- the bill, as amended, is agreed to. [inaudible] under the previous order, the clerk will appoint the following conferees. the clerk: senators levin, lieberman, reed of rhode island, akaka, nelson of nebraska, webb, mccaskill, udall of colorado, hagan, begich, manchin, shaheen, blumenthal, mccain, inhofe, sessions, chambliss, wicker, brown of massachusetts, portman, ayotte, collins, graham, cornyn and vitter. mr. whitehouse: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from rhode island is recognized. mr. whitehouse: may i ask unanimous consent that we continue in morning business until 7:00 p.m. the presiding officer: is there an objection? no objection, so ordered. mr. whitehouse: i note the absencabsence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: mr. begich: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from ala
an act to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the department of defense and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: under the previous order, it is bill, as amended -- the bill, as amended, is agreed to. [inaudible] under the previous order, the clerk will appoint the following conferees. the clerk: senators levin, lieberman, reed of rhode island, akaka, nelson of nebraska, webb, mccaskill, udall of colorado, hagan, begich, manchin, shaheen,...
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Dec 12, 2012
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came out, senator snowe mounted what's been described as a relentless months-long campaign akin to a defense at a trial. she marshalled all the data and the best arguments, and when decision day finally arrived, not only were two of the three maine facilities told to remain open, one of them was actually expanded. it's stories like this that help explain why olympia's constituents keep sending her back to washington by such wide, wide margins and why so many were shocked to hear that she would be leaving at the end of the year. as one shipyard worker in portsmouth whose job she helped save put it, we love her, we love her and she loves us. and i can't recall ever saying that publicly about a u.s. senator, the ship worker said, but truly she is a wonderful person. senator snowe will tell you many of her political views solidified during her modest maine upbringing. her parents ran a diner near augusta, and while they didn't have much, her father was adamant she receive a good education. so much so that he was dismayed to learn her kindergarten only lasted half the day. he was convinced, she o
came out, senator snowe mounted what's been described as a relentless months-long campaign akin to a defense at a trial. she marshalled all the data and the best arguments, and when decision day finally arrived, not only were two of the three maine facilities told to remain open, one of them was actually expanded. it's stories like this that help explain why olympia's constituents keep sending her back to washington by such wide, wide margins and why so many were shocked to hear that she would...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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secly, clearly, you don't want all the sequester to take place with regards to defense and discretionary. allow some of it to take place. you know, we got to -- we got to get rid -- we have to patch it before comprehensive tax reform, something pending more fundamental health care reforks. the president talks about balance. i don't expect to suggest that's the wrong term, but we need a comprehensive solution, a balanced solution because balance is why 50/50, i'm is libra -- [laughter] 50/50 with regards to spending and taxing. .. will generate more revenues, that will be counted as a spending reduction under government rules because premiums for medicare beneficiaries count as a reduction in spending. if you look at indexing formulas and things of that nature to end a perfect and the spending side and revenue side, with completion or otherwise come to you conducing structural that will both slows spending as well as generate additional revenues. now we need to do a lot more than that. i think what we also need to do is recognize reality. our goal should be not balancing the budget becaus
secly, clearly, you don't want all the sequester to take place with regards to defense and discretionary. allow some of it to take place. you know, we got to -- we got to get rid -- we have to patch it before comprehensive tax reform, something pending more fundamental health care reforks. the president talks about balance. i don't expect to suggest that's the wrong term, but we need a comprehensive solution, a balanced solution because balance is why 50/50, i'm is libra -- [laughter] 50/50...
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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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because, as the secretary of defense has said, it would be disastrous for the defense department to take another half of a trillion-dollar hit to its budget after already committing to -- and we've required under our budget act that the defense department reduce spending by about $487 billion over the next ten years. to add another half a trillion to that would, in fact, as secretary panetta said, be disastrous. so i appreciate the comments of my colleague. let me speak to the president's proposal specifically that was made at the beginning of the so-called negotiations here. his offer would increase taxes by more than $1.6 trillion on individuals, on investment income, small businesses, under the estate tax, farms and estates, and american energy producers. now, as president reagan said many years ago, if you tax something, you get less of it. if you have to pay more taxes to engage in certain activities, you tend not to engage in those activities. what's happening now in the market is a perfect example. a lot of people are of the view that capital gains taxes are going to go up. so the
because, as the secretary of defense has said, it would be disastrous for the defense department to take another half of a trillion-dollar hit to its budget after already committing to -- and we've required under our budget act that the defense department reduce spending by about $487 billion over the next ten years. to add another half a trillion to that would, in fact, as secretary panetta said, be disastrous. so i appreciate the comments of my colleague. let me speak to the president's...
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Dec 10, 2012
12/12
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and then he began to berate the defense ministry. he said he had been robbing our people, spending so much on defense, you're scaring everybody else. that is giving them an excuse for an arms race. and i'll tell you comrades, if we let them get by with forcing us into an arms race, we are going to lose. exactly what president reagan was trying to do, tactically. and i would say, you know, people at the time, i know some of martin's colleagues wouldn't say well, reagan but didn't pay that much attention to details. his eyes would glaze over. throwaway numbers of missiles of warheads, and true. he didn't look at those things. he concentrate on the basic things. how do i understand this as a fellow? how do i convince him to do something that is actually in his own interest? because his current policies are not. so we spent much more time, and i think, talking to reagan about where gorbachev is coming from, what his pressures were. and, of course, one of the things that we needed to do was, in this process, to convince him we are not out
and then he began to berate the defense ministry. he said he had been robbing our people, spending so much on defense, you're scaring everybody else. that is giving them an excuse for an arms race. and i'll tell you comrades, if we let them get by with forcing us into an arms race, we are going to lose. exactly what president reagan was trying to do, tactically. and i would say, you know, people at the time, i know some of martin's colleagues wouldn't say well, reagan but didn't pay that much...
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Dec 7, 2012
12/12
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providing for the common defense in a carefully measured way. and second, promote the general welfare. it's not just the welfare of the head of his or the have nots. it's the general welfare of all citizens of this country. and secure the blessings of liberty under the constitution. members ought to simply read that and say to themselves what can i do? while our press release says they should communicate with the people. but i would like to pose a challenge because here is some of it, and i thank each of you for coming. are there people that hold the elections of communications we've only got a short period of time to communicate. and i think that we should communicate to those people who are benefiting the most in this country from their economic status, that status having been achieved in a large measure by many years of hard work, sweat and taking a risk, but now is your chance individually and collectively to step up and communicate with your members of congress. the major members, those that benefit the most, that have the most at stake by
providing for the common defense in a carefully measured way. and second, promote the general welfare. it's not just the welfare of the head of his or the have nots. it's the general welfare of all citizens of this country. and secure the blessings of liberty under the constitution. members ought to simply read that and say to themselves what can i do? while our press release says they should communicate with the people. but i would like to pose a challenge because here is some of it, and i...
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Dec 12, 2012
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, have $100 billion of non-defense. that gets you the $300 billion the republicans have asked for. on health care, you do $500 billion. that's close to what they've asked for. a hundred billion less. other mandatory, $200 billion. that's close to what they asked for. a hundred billion-dollar difference reflects what we've already done. interest savings, because you're spending less and you have more revenue, you save interest, $400 billion. that gives you a total of spending cuts of $1.4 trillion. you add in what's already been done, $1,05 trillion and you've got a total of $2,450,000,000,000. you add that to the $1.6 trillion of revenue and you've got $4,050,000,000,000 of savings. and then i personally would extend the payroll tax holiday because c.b.o. tells us on the tax side, that's the biggest bang for the buck in giving lift to the economy. it costs you $200 billion. for a net deficit reduction of $3,850,000,000,000. for those who are wondering, well, what happens to a.m.t. and what happens to the doc fix? we hav
, have $100 billion of non-defense. that gets you the $300 billion the republicans have asked for. on health care, you do $500 billion. that's close to what they've asked for. a hundred billion less. other mandatory, $200 billion. that's close to what they asked for. a hundred billion-dollar difference reflects what we've already done. interest savings, because you're spending less and you have more revenue, you save interest, $400 billion. that gives you a total of spending cuts of $1.4...
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Dec 10, 2012
12/12
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the missiles had been defense -- defensive missiles have been shared. number of states in the region. and, frankly, the president's declaration seven pretty explicit. but to the choice of saying, do we want to manage this or just contain the threat? we going to presented and reiterated? statements by leon panetta, defense secretary have dropped some of the hesitation is that were earlier. and so, again, there has been a reiteration of how seriously we take the threat if we are prepared to act if necessary. think it's everyone so we don't get to that, but i think the measures that are being taken are the ones that make that threat real. we hope it will have some influence. if you go back, all the problems that has posed and all the missteps that got us into the war, it concentrated the mind of the iranians. that was a time and actually suspended a lot of their nuclear activities, additional inspections and the rest. so they are susceptible to military pressure. get it right so that you apply the pressure but never have to take into actuality. >> supreme
the missiles had been defense -- defensive missiles have been shared. number of states in the region. and, frankly, the president's declaration seven pretty explicit. but to the choice of saying, do we want to manage this or just contain the threat? we going to presented and reiterated? statements by leon panetta, defense secretary have dropped some of the hesitation is that were earlier. and so, again, there has been a reiteration of how seriously we take the threat if we are prepared to act...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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defense spending in 2012. we all know that interest rates are also at historic lose lows because of the action of the federal reserve. and if they were to return to their historic norms, 4% and 5% range, you can see easily how our debt would spin out of control and there would be very little room to spend money either on safety-net programs or on national security. one more point. the president often says his tax increases would merely restore the top tax rates that prevailed when bill clinton was in the white house, but that's demonstrably false. thanks to new taxes under obamacare, including the new 3.8% surtax on investment income, top rates would be significantly higher than they would be under the clinton administration. and, of course, you're not just talking about federal taxes. people in -- all around the country have to pay state, loc local, and federal taxes, many of whom would end up paying the majority of their paycheck in taxes. here's the reality. tax cuts did not create our fiscal problems and s
defense spending in 2012. we all know that interest rates are also at historic lose lows because of the action of the federal reserve. and if they were to return to their historic norms, 4% and 5% range, you can see easily how our debt would spin out of control and there would be very little room to spend money either on safety-net programs or on national security. one more point. the president often says his tax increases would merely restore the top tax rates that prevailed when bill clinton...
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Dec 10, 2012
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if we have a nor'easter our defenses are so far down that person's immune system is susceptible and thirdly, we come with less than 30 days to the -- this just has to be done. i feel like i have to be houdini to accomplish this so we are going to do this and so, secretary at look forward to your work and your help as we get to our colleagues as well. thank you mr. chairman. >> i will note this senator menendez will chair a subcommittee field hearing in new jersey next monday december december 10 on super storm sandy. senator toomey. >> thank you mr. chairman and thank you mr. secretary for joining us. i would like to understand better and aspects of the actuarial review. the question arises from the interest-rate assumptions and the interest-rate interest rate environment that is used to determine the prevailing view about the value of the mutual mortgage insurance fund and the family fund. more specifically, you observe on page eight of your testimony the fact the worst shape the fund is to simplify that and you walk through the mechanisms by which a lower interest rates while good for the
if we have a nor'easter our defenses are so far down that person's immune system is susceptible and thirdly, we come with less than 30 days to the -- this just has to be done. i feel like i have to be houdini to accomplish this so we are going to do this and so, secretary at look forward to your work and your help as we get to our colleagues as well. thank you mr. chairman. >> i will note this senator menendez will chair a subcommittee field hearing in new jersey next monday december...
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Dec 5, 2012
12/12
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what i heard from our experts, from the department of defense, from the state department, from usaid as well as a range of outside experts and one witness who testified from bamaco, the capital of mali, is was of concern to me. this is the largest controlled area in the world. in the north, extremists have imposed a harsh and strict version of sharia, or islamic law, and gross human rights violations. many people have heard of timbuktu but don't know it's a city in northern mali. in a site where extremists have behaved much like the taliban did in afghanistan before 9/11, destroying sacred and religious historic artifacts, imposing a harsh version of sharia that has meant amputations, stoning, violation of women's rights and free speech and religious free exercise rights, fundamentalling changing the tolerance and inclusive history of mali and creating with it a humanitarian crisis as more than 400,000 malians have fled, either internally displaced within mali or going to neighboring countries with refugees. with growing ties between these terrorists and nigeria, libya and throughout
what i heard from our experts, from the department of defense, from the state department, from usaid as well as a range of outside experts and one witness who testified from bamaco, the capital of mali, is was of concern to me. this is the largest controlled area in the world. in the north, extremists have imposed a harsh and strict version of sharia, or islamic law, and gross human rights violations. many people have heard of timbuktu but don't know it's a city in northern mali. in a site...
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Dec 7, 2012
12/12
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department of defense through u.s. africa command is actively supporting the military planning effort through the provision of planning expertise. the broad strategic concept for that deployment is sound. more specific planning is underway to address the myriad of operation details. the u.s. government is exploring options for supporting the countries that contribute forces to the equal loss mission and this could include the training and equipment to the countries that would contribute forces to deploy as far as the international military force. and additional planning and advisory support. i will look forward to your questions. thank you. >> thank you deputy secretary to read and grateful to the panel and for the opportunity to explore further this complex and very challenging situation. if i might first on the question just sort of sequencing all three of you have spoken to the interrelated and complex challenges on the path towards restoring democracy dealing with humanitarian issues henderson historic grievances i
department of defense through u.s. africa command is actively supporting the military planning effort through the provision of planning expertise. the broad strategic concept for that deployment is sound. more specific planning is underway to address the myriad of operation details. the u.s. government is exploring options for supporting the countries that contribute forces to the equal loss mission and this could include the training and equipment to the countries that would contribute forces...
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Dec 7, 2012
12/12
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senators, in light of your many accomplishments in defense of national security and defense of freedom, i am proud to present you, the foundation for defensive democracies inaugural ambassador jeane j. kirkpatrick award sitting right next to you. a little heavy, but you as a strong. pick it up. please join me in congratulating the senators. [applause] >> you are both well and say a couple of words here. >> cliff. thank you very much. when i think about it, his movement from the new york times is a little like my movement from the democratic party to being independent. [laughter] i am really honored by this. i am honored because of my great admiration for this unique organization here in washington and throughout the country. i like the phrase of action intellectual. he produced some really tough work that informs policy, and you have also been very effective advocates. secondly, i am really honored to be receiving this award in the name of jean kirkpatrick. another independent democrat. so independent she became a republican. i don't know. she was an inspiration to watch at the u.n., a
senators, in light of your many accomplishments in defense of national security and defense of freedom, i am proud to present you, the foundation for defensive democracies inaugural ambassador jeane j. kirkpatrick award sitting right next to you. a little heavy, but you as a strong. pick it up. please join me in congratulating the senators. [applause] >> you are both well and say a couple of words here. >> cliff. thank you very much. when i think about it, his movement from the new...
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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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the insurance and defense sectors have looked at the scientific data. they are changing their operations. they are preparing for the worst and even bigger losses. insurance commissioners in california, new york and washington now require companies to disclose how they are working to plot the effects of climate change and their responses. congress may be in denial but the real world, the private sector, is not. and as the government is the ultimate insurer of millions of americans in the crop insurance and national flood insurance programs, we have to get serious about addressing the cause and effects of climate change and the solvency and future of these important programs. computer models suggest that the storms and heat waves we're seeing will become stronger and more extreme in future, causing even greater damage. congress can no longer afford to ignore this issue. madam president, i yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: mr. coons: madam president? the presi
the insurance and defense sectors have looked at the scientific data. they are changing their operations. they are preparing for the worst and even bigger losses. insurance commissioners in california, new york and washington now require companies to disclose how they are working to plot the effects of climate change and their responses. congress may be in denial but the real world, the private sector, is not. and as the government is the ultimate insurer of millions of americans in the crop...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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it is therefore imperative that senate deliberations on the defense bill be conducted without limitations and in a manner that allows for the consideration of all related amendments that senators may wish to offer." so i feel aggrieved that my little amendment is not even going to get any more debate than these few moments right now. i know the senator from tennessee feels the same way, and undoubtedly senator udall would prefer a vote and debate on his amendment. we can fix this senate. we can get back to the leadership we had under mansfield and mitchell of maine and lott of mississippi, and other majority leaders, and we can move legislation along, but not if we continue this -- this abuse of the process by filling the amendment tree. i'll be voting with the senator and with the distinguished senator from pennsylvania on the point of order, because we need to draw a bright red line there. but beyond that, we may get on this issue at some 0 ooh point. i hope the senate can get back to an orderly debate on matters of substance and i thank my friend, the senator from tennessee, for yieldi
it is therefore imperative that senate deliberations on the defense bill be conducted without limitations and in a manner that allows for the consideration of all related amendments that senators may wish to offer." so i feel aggrieved that my little amendment is not even going to get any more debate than these few moments right now. i know the senator from tennessee feels the same way, and undoubtedly senator udall would prefer a vote and debate on his amendment. we can fix this senate....
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Dec 11, 2012
12/12
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so the changes to the estimates can be tracked and updated, and key decisions documented and defensible. finally, with regard to the cost estimate credibility, the rail authority did conduct a sensitivity analysis and an independent cost estimate, but these were limited to the initial construction segments. in addition, it did not conduct risk and uncertainty analysis to determine the likelihood that the estimates would be met. without these steps, decision-makers cannot identify the risks that may affect the projects cost. moving onto my second point, in addition to developing reliable cost estimates, the california high-speed rail project faces many challenges. chief among these is obtaining project funding beyond the initial 130-mile construction segment. while the rail authority has secured 11.5 billion for federal and state sources, it needs at least 57 billion in additional funding to complete the project. as with any large public infrastructure project, it is relying on public funding. in this case about 81% for the total construction cost. so financing is expected to come from u
so the changes to the estimates can be tracked and updated, and key decisions documented and defensible. finally, with regard to the cost estimate credibility, the rail authority did conduct a sensitivity analysis and an independent cost estimate, but these were limited to the initial construction segments. in addition, it did not conduct risk and uncertainty analysis to determine the likelihood that the estimates would be met. without these steps, decision-makers cannot identify the risks that...